Remains of two people, dog found after Taneytown home destroyed in explosion

A raging fire is what crews faced as they arrived at the house on Bear Run Road in Taneytown just after 4 a.m Friday. 

 

"Neighbors reported hearing an explosion. They also observed the house fully engulfed in flames," said Senior Deputy Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire. "Currently at this time, we do have two adults who are unaccounted for."

 

Federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined in the investigation, along with a bomb squad, looking for evidence of what might have caused the explosion.

 

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Investigators discovered a propane tank on the back deck, and the elderly couple in their 70s, also may have had welding materials on site.

 

Meanwhile, the search for their bodies continued.

 

"We knew there were possibly two individuals inside,” said Alkire. “I just got word that we did find the remains of one deceased individual, along with the remains of one deceased pet. Our investigators are just now able to make access to the house. We were able to bring in some heavy equipment, which is assisting us in removing larger pieces of debris."

 

Late Friday afternoon, investigators found the second victim, but they continue to look for the source of the fire.

 

It is a job made that much more difficult by the enormous amount of debris left behind.

 

"We have gotten information both from the family and people that know the individuals inside the house that there was hording conditions,” said Alkire. “So that quickly contributed to the amount of fire that we had within the house."

 

At this point, investigators have not found any sign of criminal or suspicious activity involving the fire.

 

If you saw anything or have any information, which could help them, you're asked to call the State Fire Marshal's Office at 410-836-4844.